Diversity

Abiotic Factors

by Raoul Mackenzie

​What are Abiotic factors

​An abiotic factor is a non-living part of an ecosystem that shapes its environment. In a terrestrial ecosystem, examples might include temperature, light, and water. In a marine ecosystem, abiotic factors would include salinity and ocean currents. Abiotic and biotic factors work together to create a unique ecosystem.

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​(national geographic 2021)

​Types of Abiotic factors

• ​Temperature and Light

• ​Water

• ​Atmosphere

• ​Chemical Elements

• ​Wind

Multiple Choice

Which one of the following is an abiotic factor?

• Trees and temperature

• Trees and rainfall

• Bacteria and predators

• Temperature and rainfall

Open Ended

How can Abiotic factors be measured?

​Measuring some abiotic factors and gradients

• ​PH: is the measure of how acidic or basic something is. Living organisms have specific tolerance ranges for PH in either soil or water. PH is measure using PH meters/indicators.

• ​Turbidity: cause by suspended particles. (Cloudiness of fluid) this is measure using a secchi disk.

• ​Salinity: dissolved inorganic salt content of water or soil. Measure by passing an electric current between 2 electrodes. Organisms have 'specific salinity preferences although many intertidal and estuarine organisms are tolerant of wide fluctuations,

Multiple Choice

Turbidity is?

• dissolved inorganic salt content

• specific tolerance ranges for PH

• caused by suspended particles

​Ecosysytem

​An ecosystem is a geographic area where plants, animals, and other organisms, as well as weather and landscape, work together to form a bubble of life. Ecosystems contain biotic or living, parts, as well as abiotic factors, or nonliving parts. Biotic factors include plants, animals, and other organisms. Abiotic factors include rocks, temperature, and humidity.

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​(National Geographic, 2021)

Multiple Choice

An ecosystem is made up of all the _________&_________factors in an area

• not/without

• Limiting Factor/ Carrying Capacity

• life/ biotic factor

• Living/ Nonliving